WHITE PAPER #1
THE W.E. UPJOHN CENTER FOR THE STIUDY OF GEOGRAPHICAL CHANGE
COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
AUTHORITATIVE TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS FOR THE WORLD
Need. To serve our nation’s (and the world’s) spatial data infrastructure for the 21st century, we need
authoritative topographic maps. Authoritative maps refer to high definition maps produced through a
combination of hyper-accurate imaging, nuanced post-processing and color matching, exacting georeferencing, and assured curation. The W.E. Upjohn Center for the Study of Geographical Change has
invented the authoritative digital topographic map. The first tranche of these authoritative topographic
maps is described below. Although at nominal 1:24,000 (1 in. = 2,000 ft.) scale, these maps can be used
with digital ortho-images (such as NAIP) and retain their geometric accuracy to at least 1:6,000 (1 in. =
500 ft.) scale. Our authoritative topographic maps tile together seamlessly, are produced in several map
projections, and can be used easily with Google Earth (or other earth viewers), or integrated into
Geographic Information Systems. For illustration, please see the accompanying downloadable jumbo
postcard .pdf showing Flint, Michigan’s “Buicktown” on a 2009 NAIP image, a “current” USGS 24k
map, and a 60 percent transparency overlay of the map on the image.
Other Tranches. We believe our Authoritative U.S. Topos© should include other tranches that conform to
the same high definition standard of accuracy, readability, and usability in contemporary digital settings.
Thus, we intend to include in this series historic topographic map series such as: 1) Maps of America
West of the 100th Meridian (the so-called “General Wheeler” maps); 2) the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
topographic maps (including precursor agencies); 3) U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey (or successor
agencies) maps; 4) Bureau of Land Management maps; 5) historic U.S.G.S. maps; and 6) maps issued by
other agencies such as the National Park Service. We are making good progress on these next tranches.
The goal of the Authoritative U.S. Topos© series is to capture all officially released topographic maps of
the United States as far back as Thomas Jefferson’s time. Thus, these tranches will constitute a time-andspace-integrated coordinate “clothesline” of the United States, populated with the very best map
information for 21st century map users and analysts. Moreover, since many “maps” continue to be made
without coordinates, these coordinate-free drawings may be snapped to our high definition reference maps
for analytical use. The template for Authoritative U.S. Topos© can be used to create authoritative
topographic maps for any nation’s mapping heritage.
An Extensible Development Path. Because the world of digital maps and spatial analysis is evolving
rapidly, we have envisioned a common development path for each tranche -- leading from superb raster
maps to fully vectorized maps readily usable on mobile computing devices. These maps can also be used
by people with various visual impairments.
Tranche One. The first tranche of the Authoritative U.S. Topos© series covers the entire United States. It
is a re-issue of the last paper topographic maps issued by the USGS (ca. 57,000 sheets). The USGS
originally digitalized these topographic quadrangles in the early 1990s. This project proved the great
value and feasibility of integrating digital maps into GIS applications. These digital maps “provided the
blueprint for the development of much of the nation and provided critical information for development of
our natural resources” [D. Cowen et al., “The Changing Geospatial Landscape”, NGAC 2009, p. 7]. Although
widely accepted and still used, the digital versions of those maps (digital raster graphics, or DRGs) have
been “showing their age” for some time. They have accuracy and visual quality (readability) problems.
They were not publication quality because that was not possible in the 1990s. For the 21st century there is
AUTHORITATIVE TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS FOR THE WORLD
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compelling need to supersede these maps with digital maps of superb quality and accuracy. Our
authoritative digital maps mirror for the first time the truly superb work done by USGS cartographers.
This first tranche of these digital maps allows readers to see each map afresh, as if for the first time.
Our Solution. Our ultimate digital version of the USGS topographic map will soon be reality. Using
ultra-accurate high-resolution scanners designed expressly for The W.E. Upjohn Center for the Study of
Geographical Change at Western Michigan University, “Super-DRGs” of ultimate fidelity and accuracy
are being created for the entire nation. (See examples below and in accompanying graphic of Flint, MI.)
The extreme accuracy of the imaging process generates almost no non-map error in the Super-DRG.
They are essentially digital facsimiles of the original maps. Super-DRGs are not just another “good
enough” digital reproduction. The very tiny positional error generated in the conversion process
(<.0001”, or <2.1 inches on the ground for a 1:24,000 scale map) means these maps retain only the error
designed into them by USGS professionals – that is, map projection error and minuscule operator error.
(We also use a completely non-destructive way of imaging rare and delicate maps.)
Bright Angel Pt. Quad
Berlin, NH Quad
Kalamazoo, MI Quad
The Super-DRG (like the predecessor DRGs) is 8-bit color and 250 dpi resolution. Contours do not fuse
together in areas of high relief, line work is crisp, text and symbols are highly readable, and color masks
are evenly toned. The W.E. Upjohn Center has scanned and geo-referenced all 57,000 of USGS’s
1:24,000 (current) topographic quadrangles.
The W.E. Upjohn Center. Founded in 2006 by a generous private gift, The W.E. Upjohn Center’s
principal mission is to convert historic large-format maps and aerial photographs from the pre-digital age
into digital form. They then can be used in GIS studies modeling both spatial and temporal dimensions.
Part of the University’s College of Arts & Sciences, the Center is a non-profit entity, requiring
reimbursement for its activities. It preserves collections as digital archives, creates reader access files
easier to read and much smaller than archival files, and re-purposes map and aerial photograph collections
for the GIS/geospatial age. We are moving increasingly towards an assured curation model.
The Center also has invoked several exemplar initiatives because of their importance to its mission, only
one of which is transmuting USGS topographic maps into Super-DRGs. These Super-DRGs provide
coordinate referencing for historic maps, drawings, and aerial photos. The Center possesses the most
accurate large-format map imaging capability worldwide. It is fully configured with GIS and other
software, and maintains 157 TB of loss-proof digital storage. The Center also is a high-security, climatecontrolled facility with an integral ultra-secure, climate-controlled archive with dry-fire suppression. The
Center’s imaging equipment was designed expressly to image large format maps and aerial photographs.
It possesses exclusive rights to its scanning equipment in the United States.
The Center may work with any public or private, domestic or foreign partner. We are catholic in our
willingness to work with all funding models.
Benefits of Authoritative Digital Maps. Significant advantages accrue by having high quality SuperDRGs for use in reports and publications as well as in GIS. Our Super-DRGs are publication quality.
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They are spatially accurate (accuracy of GIS is perhaps the “elephant in the living room” of the geospatial
industries for the 21st century). Our digital maps are geo-referenced near-facsimiles. They display
properly the “brand” for which the USGS (or other issuing agencies) are justly famous, and for which we
have great respect. [National Academy of Sciences, “A Research Agenda for Geographic Information Science at
the United States Geological Survey”, 2007.] Super-DRGs of this accuracy will never be eclipsed by new
versions of them. The paper maps will not have to be re-imaged again in future. Geospatially-enabled
authoritative topographic maps create a synoptic view of the world that has been becoming increasingly
important since the beginning of the “Anthropocene Age”.
Super-DRGs provide an invaluable historical “snapshot” of places. Studies of geographical/locationbased change are thereby enabled. This is true regardless whether users are planners and economic
developers, environmental and global change scientists, historians and genealogists, surveyors and
engineers, or citizens and students. Geographical change analysis using digital geospatial technology is
increasingly important. It doesn’t matter whether one is a policy analyst or a global change scientist, an
economic developer/investor or a “6th mass extinction” analyst. Change is constant in modern life. It
doesn’t matter whether one lives in Indiana or India, Chattanooga or China. Our authoritative digital
maps are designed explicitly for visualizing geographic/locational/place change.
Users benefit from accessing these digital maps regardless whether the sponsor is a public or private
agency. Google Earth has demonstrated the transparency that comes from serving satellite image and
digital map materials freely. It has also shown what was, until 2005, a worldwide latent demand for highquality, easy-to-use earth viewing-and-mapping. Together with other Internet-enabled technologies
Google Earth, Bing Maps (and others) provide citizens for the first time a synoptic view of regions they
value. These geospatial viewers and databases are key to engendering democracy and transparency in
government and private spheres. Our authoritative Super-DRGs contribute to more effective
infrastructure asset management, coherent infrastructure planning, and economic development and
sustainable environmental initiatives. They benefit both rural and urban America. They support
homeland security and other government efforts. They benefit all imaginable constituencies across the
country. They support more effective ecological analysis, planning, and management. In short, making
these digital maps publicly accessible is a “win-win” strategy for society.
Timing. Tranche One will be complete in 2012. Other tranches are being pursued, and other authoritative
map initiatives may be taken up -- depending on affirmation, funding, and partnerships with consortia, or
public and private agencies. We welcome inquiries, encouragement, and dialog from and with all
interested persons and entities.
David G. Dickason, Ph.D.
Professor & Director
The W.E. Upjohn Center for the Study of Geographical Change
College of Arts & Sciences
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5388
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.wmich.edu/ucgc/
2/14/12